I'm sure that, at some point in your life, you've received something you don't like. I've pretty much lived off hand-me-downs and, although not presents, I've had some not-so-good stuff passed on me. Fortunately, when we receive horrifying gifts, there are ways of dealing with it without hurting the giver's feelings (who was probably really under the impression that you would like what was given). We can always pretend that what we've received is amazing, then just (very quietly) pass the gift on to someone who'd like it better.
And then there are things that are just shoved down our throats until we choke and gag and die from our own vomit...or in this case, from the frustration of having to deal with shite that don't belong in the holidays.
Here are the 4 worst things forced upon Filipinos today.
1. Something Heavy. The Philippines has most expensive power rate in the region. The power rate will also rise significantly this month because our power distributors need to raise money to rehabilitate typhoon-torn areas like Tacloban and Samar. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about rehabilitation. Shall I remind everyone that the Secretary for Energy has given his word that he will resign if power is not back by Christmas (I do hope he means THIS YEAR)? My problem is that the bigwigs are passing the expenses to the consumers, when in fact, I am sure that the government has more than enough money to subsidize a significant part of the energy rehab of these storm-destroyed areas. How can I say this? The 2013 PDAF has just been declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. That's millions of pesos of indiscriminate fund right there.
It's not just electricity. Just this week gas and LPG prices also soared. And of course there's the rumored 100% increase in MRT and LRT fare despite the fact that the breakdowns are so common, it has been considered as a regular, if not unfortunate and infuriating, occurrence.
Thank you, society.
Thank you, society.
2. Something Infuriatingly Silly. The truth: our legislative bodies are not known for having the best IQ. Sure, there are exceptions like Miriam Defensor Santiago, Pia Cayetano, and even Gloria Arroyo,who seem to know what they are talking about. But then we have complete jokes like Revilla and Sotto who completely muck up the image of a decent Senate. Unfortunately for the Philippines, we have too many political jokes getting elected.
This would be the proper moment for you to reminisce about the 2013 elections and cringe.
This would also be a good time to cringe at some of the more obvious examples of idiocy (there are loads). Apart from Tito Sotto's shameless act of plagiarism, there is also the face-palm worthy bills that these representatives are filing. One that totally annoyed me was the Pacquiao Bill. Filled during boxing icon Manny Pacquiao's battle with the BIR because of his alleged questionable tax practices, the bill proposes that Pacman be exempted from paying taxes until he dies. Yup. The proponents (who are Pacquiao's allies in Congress) want to make a law that would excuse one of the most influential and the richest man in the Philippines from paying what he should pay while the rest of us dukha have to try and budget the meager sum left to us after the dogs of this so-called Daang Matuwid government have finished with our salary.
Sounds rather fair and logical.
Honestly, I don't care if Pacman has brought "honor" and "Pinoy Pride" to our country. Lea Salongga did the same thing when she got into Broadway and won awards. So did many Filipino scientists honored internationally, whose work, although blatantly ignored by the government, have contributed to the tangible development of our sad little nation. Pacquiao should be taxed, and taxed fairly. He should pay no more and no less than he should. That's it. No special treatment.
What we forget is this: In this day and age when our taxes go to leather-bounded Porche of some kid in the US whose mother can't even survive without air conditioning, an honest person working an honest job and paying what is due to him - even if the money goes into the pockets of buwayas - is the one who gives the most pride to the Philippines.
By the way, those taxes we're paying? Those pay for the legislative process that these silly, infuriating bills go through.
3. Something Disgusting.When I was a kid and we had Monito Monita at school, and the phrase "something disgusting" came up, the first thing I would buy for whoever I would be giving a gift too was this cool little thingy:
Now that I'm an adult, should I participate in another Monito Monita and "something disgusting" comes up, I'll give them a link to a video of the head of state blaming the mayor of a Yolanda-torn area and vice versa.
This is what's truly disgusting: so-called leaders with no accountability, who prefer to the point fingers and blame. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that leaders should not put blame where blame is due and let incompetence (especially incompetence that cost people's lives) unpunished. I'm saying that if you're the head and your people mess up, hold them accountable, try and have the decency to not blame and take into consideration that as a leader you are also accountable, then manage the problem.
Thank you for adding more drama to our lives, but honestly, Filipinos have more than enough teleseryes to deal with.
4. Something Magical that Makes Your Forget. The one thing Filipinos don't need is a potion or a spell to make them forget about the insanity of the past years. We Filipinos don't seem to learn from history. I honestly think that Death Eaters have invaded the government and are Obliviating people to make them forget important things. Here are some stuff that happened that we shouldn't forget:
This would be the proper moment for you to reminisce about the 2013 elections and cringe.
This would also be a good time to cringe at some of the more obvious examples of idiocy (there are loads). Apart from Tito Sotto's shameless act of plagiarism, there is also the face-palm worthy bills that these representatives are filing. One that totally annoyed me was the Pacquiao Bill. Filled during boxing icon Manny Pacquiao's battle with the BIR because of his alleged questionable tax practices, the bill proposes that Pacman be exempted from paying taxes until he dies. Yup. The proponents (who are Pacquiao's allies in Congress) want to make a law that would excuse one of the most influential and the richest man in the Philippines from paying what he should pay while the rest of us dukha have to try and budget the meager sum left to us after the dogs of this so-called Daang Matuwid government have finished with our salary.
Sounds rather fair and logical.
Honestly, I don't care if Pacman has brought "honor" and "Pinoy Pride" to our country. Lea Salongga did the same thing when she got into Broadway and won awards. So did many Filipino scientists honored internationally, whose work, although blatantly ignored by the government, have contributed to the tangible development of our sad little nation. Pacquiao should be taxed, and taxed fairly. He should pay no more and no less than he should. That's it. No special treatment.
What we forget is this: In this day and age when our taxes go to leather-bounded Porche of some kid in the US whose mother can't even survive without air conditioning, an honest person working an honest job and paying what is due to him - even if the money goes into the pockets of buwayas - is the one who gives the most pride to the Philippines.
By the way, those taxes we're paying? Those pay for the legislative process that these silly, infuriating bills go through.
3. Something Disgusting.When I was a kid and we had Monito Monita at school, and the phrase "something disgusting" came up, the first thing I would buy for whoever I would be giving a gift too was this cool little thingy:
This is what's truly disgusting: so-called leaders with no accountability, who prefer to the point fingers and blame. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that leaders should not put blame where blame is due and let incompetence (especially incompetence that cost people's lives) unpunished. I'm saying that if you're the head and your people mess up, hold them accountable, try and have the decency to not blame and take into consideration that as a leader you are also accountable, then manage the problem.
Thank you for adding more drama to our lives, but honestly, Filipinos have more than enough teleseryes to deal with.
4. Something Magical that Makes Your Forget. The one thing Filipinos don't need is a potion or a spell to make them forget about the insanity of the past years. We Filipinos don't seem to learn from history. I honestly think that Death Eaters have invaded the government and are Obliviating people to make them forget important things. Here are some stuff that happened that we shouldn't forget:
- The Ampatuan Massacre, wherein more than 50 people were brutally murdered. Many of them were people from the media.
- The blatant, unapologetic plagiarism of Senator Tito Sotto.
- Janet Lim Napoles, the new poster child(?) for corruption, plus Tanda, Sexy, and her other cohorts.
- The Room Nurse incident involving Senator Cynthia Villar.
- Yolanda's wrath and how the Filipino Government and the Filipino people responded.
Never forget, Philippines, or we will never learn.
Happy holidays, everyone. May the gifts that you receive be anything than sucky.
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